Pivoted jaw screw cap remover



Feb. 13, 1951 G. T. DERBY 2,541,216

PIVOTED JAW SCREW CAP REMOVER Filed Nov. 26, 1947 INVENTOR. George E. Derby 3 BYMIGJJLOMM Afiorneys fatented 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIVOTED JAW SCREW CAP REMOVER George T. Derby, Jacksonville, Fla. Application November 26, 1947, Serial No. 788,194

3 Claims. s1 3.44)

ated with simple clamping means for clamping the adjustable jaw in opening engagement with the jar top.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a unitary device including cooperating clamping jaws, one of which is fixed and the other is movable for gripping a screw-top jar for opening the same, coupled with means for prying up pry-off caps, and bottle opening means all actuated by the same lever bar.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an opener of the above-indicated character having a fixed jaw member and a pivotally mounted jaw member having mounting means which permits the locking of the pivotally mount- 7 ed jaw in clamping position in engagement with a top to be opened that is held against the fixed jaw member, the mounting means for the pivotally mounted jaw enabling the jaw to pivot freely at alltimes on the mounting means for enabling self-positioning of the jaw against the top to be removed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an opener of the above-indicated character wherein the pivotally mounted jaw is provided with top engaging surfaces adapted to center the pivotally mounted jaw responsive to the clamping engagement thereof with a top to be opened.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a jar-toppremover, having a fixed jaw member and a pivotally mounted jaw member means which will secure the pivotally mounted jaw member in proper relation with the fixed jaw member when the jaws are moved into operative relation with a jar top, the said means including a stud with a locking bolt therein, and lever means integral with the bolt for shifting the stud between locking and adjusting positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wrench-like screw-top remover for removing tops from jars or the like, having opposed jaws which will automatically adjust themselves to tops of different diameters when placed in engagement therewith, together with means for locking the jaws in adjusted clamping engagement with the top.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed out in particularity in the appended claims. 1

The invention will be understood more readily ,by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing itinoperative position for opening a screwtop container.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom side of the device.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the locking means embodied in the construction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the locking means of Fig. 4 mounted in position in the device of the invention, the View show- 1 in the actuating means; for the locking means and the mounting thereof on the locking means;

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I

the device of this invention includes an elongated lever bar I and which is provided with a slot 2 extending along the median line of the bar as i shown. One end of bar I is provided on its underside with a fixed jaw 3 having gripping teeth 4 thereon, which project inwardly to grip the screw-top A of a jar, container, or the like, a

movablejaw 5 co-operating with this jaw 3 to grip the screw top (indicated at A) between itself and thefixed jaw 3. In order to grip the top A the jaw 5 includes diverging sides 6 and l, which diverge from the mounting 8, as will be apparent fromthe drawings, said sides 6 and l terminate inserratedarcuate gripping surfaces 9 and ID,

that are adapted to grip the top A therebetween.

The mounting means 8 for the jaw 5 includes a stud ii that has a narrowedend portion I2 stud H. The-narrow end portion I2 defines opposite shoulders I3 and M with the body of the stud II, and forms a neck for receiving the bar l. The opposite end of the stud ll is enlarged with a collar or flange 15, which retains the jaw 5 in place on the mounting means. The stud H is provided with a longitudinally extending axial, internally threaded bore 16 adapted to receive a bolt ll, which is provided with a head 18 and threads IS. The bolt head 18 is provided with a lever arm 29 for turning the bolt, so that when V invention.

the jaw has been moved along the slot 2 into clamping position with the screw top against the bar I, turning of the lever arm 20 draws shoulders l3 and I4 and bolt head l8 into clamping engagement with the bar or handle I and anchoring 5 the mounting 8 in jar top gripping position with respect to the bar or handle I against displacement during the movement of said bar or handlein top removing direction. The jaw 5 thus is locked in position, against the. screwto p, A on o the bar I', thefjaw-5 however beinglfreelji movable witli' respect to the stud ll to per'mi't its self-adjustment with respect to the screw top A due to the configuration of the grippingsurfacesf of the jaw 5. The bar I is recessed as shown at 21, the cut, out portion being bent down to form the flange- 22 which provides means for pryingiofi 'lift-tops -i that are clamped onto a container. The, bar L is also notched as at 23 adjacent to its end'oppo site to the fixed jaw 3 toprovide bottle-cap removingtmeansl Thus 'there is provided fern-3:11 1 purpose opening tool for ffopening anytype ofclosure for containers whether said cl'osures be screw-tops,bottle tops or clamped coversjth'-bar 25 I serving "as the actuating lever'for-each purposel From the above it will be apparent that I have designed a jar or container top opening device; comprising few. parts, T readily I applicable to and easily operable, simple and sturdy in c ')nst'rut tion, manufacturable at a negligible cost, and e111;

cient. for, the purposes intended;

Although Lin. practice it has been found thatthe form of the invention illustrated in the ao: companying drawings and referred; to" in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical; yetr'ealizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention willnecessarily vary", it' is desired to emphasize "thatvarious minor changes in de- 40 tails ofconstruction, proportion and f-arrang'e ment of parts, may be resorted 1 to within the scope ofv the appended claims 'without' departing from-or sacrificing any of the principles?of'this Having thus described the invention, what I- desire protected by Letters Patent is 'as set-forthini.,the:fbllowirig claims u 11 In an opener for jar tops andfihelike, the combination" of a jaw-carrying mem waavm a handle with a "longitudinal slot'ftherein a'a' includin'g'a stationary jaw, aggnpm ber having" a cooperating jaw portion; mo gnnn ineafis' fo 'fj' the grip member including a stud atably" ex '55 tending through said gripfmemberfand "having a large retaining 'fiange therefor said'stud ing a narrowed portion adapted to enterfthe said 5 slot and for adjustment therein, said stud hav ing ail-internally threaded bore, 'abolt th'readedly engaging in said stud and formed 'w'it' hfh andle engaging means, and a lever arm; in connection with said engaging means for effecting tightening of the mounting on said handle remit-vent ing" its longitudinal movement with respect to said slot when said stationary jawand grip memberare in 'jar top engaging" position, 'Said gr'ip member being always freely pivoted on the stud to permit its self-adjustment with respect to the jar top to be opened.

2. An opening device for jar tops and like con-' tainers, which comprisesan actuating bar, a clamping jaw fixedly mounted on the bar adjacent to one end thereof, the bar being provided with an elongated median slot, an adjustable clamping jaw adapted for longitudinal adjustment relative to the bar and fixed clamping jaw, means for mounting theadjustableclagriping J'aw ofith bar including a stud having a restricted neck portion entering the slot and defining opposite shoulders on the stud adapted to retain said ban, "a retaining collar on the stud for holding thqfidiustablejaw, said adjustable jaw being' loosely mounted on said stud, a bolt threadedly mounted inthestud, a lever arm on the bolt adaptedto, move the stud between free-sliding position in the slot and locked position against the bar for securing the adjustable jaw in clamp; ing' position against'ascrewtop'for clamping said topbetween the fixed-jaw andthe movablejaw, and converging arcuate top-engaging surfaces on the adjustable jaw surfaces for enabling-the jaw-to be self-centering against-the top when moved to clamping position thereon. i

3'; An opening devicefor opening jar tops and the like, which" comprises an actuating :bar, a clamping jaw; fixedly mounted on the bar ad;-

jacent to'one end thereof, the bar being provided with an elongated substantially mediafr'sloman adjustable clamping jaw, means formqul'lting said clamping' jaw 'for relative adjustment with? respect-to saidslot including a s'tud having a; restricted neck portion extending into; -tlji e-slqt and defining" opposite shoulders on the stud; the

said shoulders .f forming abutment surfaces forthe baton each Sfdefof t e l t amistudtem freely rotatable through sajd, adjuStab1e' J-aw:

I efiectpivotal mounting of said jaw, a retaining;-

fiange for securing the adjustable jaw-onthel stud, a bolt threadedly mounted in'the stud; ahead for the bolt having a diametergreater-than the width of the slot for retaining thestud in the slot, a lever'arm on the bolt -head efifectingadjustment of the adjustable jawwith respectto'; the slot and clamping engagement of said -head; and shoulders ;with said; bar to lock the studandadjus table jaw in predetermined posltion on the bar relative to thefixed-jaw, and 'means-on;

the adjustable jaw for centeringthe jaw relative;

toth top one container respon's ive tio clamping;

engagement of the jar with the top.-

GEQRGE DEREK REFERE'NGES; CITED The f sl ew n e enes; are fi eqqre iii th file of this patent t V r UNITED I Bernesser; Apr-527 1937' 

